Cover Reveal: Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Are you ready for your first look at one of this year’s most-anticipated books?

Jay Kristoff is a longtime friend and favorite of the blog, and he’s launching a new series in August 2016 that should definitely be on your radar. Nevernight is a fantasy set on a planet in which it’s almost always daytime, and our heroine is hell-bent on seeking revenge for her shattered family. This author specializes in positively epic world-building and characterization, so I’m super excited to see this new world he’s created.

Today we’re pleased to give you a peek at the new book! Here’s the official cover reveal, along with a synopsis and some words from Jay on a few things you should know about Nevernight.

Drum roll, please…

Just look at that beauty! Such a badass cover, and one that offers the promise of so many awesome things. I’m curious about Mia’s mask (?), the dripping blood, and the symbols carved into the stone behind her–and are those shadows suggestive of wings? I also like that she’s not a stick-thin girl, that her hair is super straight, and that this is an atypical image that almost borders on horror. Kristoff books tend to be somewhere in the adult crossover/mature YA realm anyway, and this is definitely an eye-catching design for both upper YA and adult audiences.

Nevernight Synopis:

The first in an epic new fantasy series from the New York Times and international bestselling author.

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, a sixteen year old Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic — the Red Church. Treachery and trials await her with the Church’s halls, and to fail is to die. But if she survives to initiation, Mia will be inducted among the chosen of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the only thing she desires.

Revenge.

About the Author

Jay Kristoff is the author of the steampunk LOTUS WAR trilogy and co-author of the scifi thriller ILLUMINAE, which is a New York Times and international bestseller. ILLUMINAE is currently slated to be published in twenty countries, and film rights have been acquired by Brad Pitt and Plan B Entertainment. A new fantasy series, THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE, commences with book 1, NEVERNIGHT, to be published by St. Martins Press/Thomas Dunne Books and Harper Voyager on August 9th, 2016.

1. The world of NEVERNIGHT is part of a trinary star system—a planet with three suns. This means the world is bathed in almost constant daylight, and actual night-time only falls once every two and a half years.

Great if you want a suntan. Not so great if you want to sleep.

2. The world of NEVERNIGHT is ruled by the Republic of Itreya, and its political system is loosely based on the ancient Republic of Rome. Jay is a tragic nerd for Roman history, and the setting started as a thought experiment: “What if Julius Caesar’s rebellion against the Roman Senate failed, and the empire never came to pass?”

(There would be no Caesar’s Pizza, for one thing).

3. The novel begins in the city of Godsgrave, which you clever folks might have already realized, is built on the gravesite of a dead god. The oldest structures in the city, such as the Senate House and Grand Cathedral, are actually carved out of the colossal bones the god left behind. Nobody’s really sure who the god was, or what he did to get himself murdered.

Pretty sure it was something bad, though.

4. The “hero” of the novel is Mia Corvere, the sixteen-year-old daughter of one of the failed rebellion’s leaders. Her daddy suffers the fate of most traitors, and she’s understandably put out by his state-sponsored execution. She decides to seek training at a school of Itreya’s deadliest assassins in order to exact revenge against his murderers.

THAT’S RIGHT. ASSASSIN SCHOOL, PEOPLE.

5. Mia has the unusual ability to control darkness, which sounds like a really great power until you remember her world is bathed in almost constant daylight. Then it stats to sound like she should be looking for a refund at the Superpowers Store. She has a pet cat, who accompanies her wherever she goes.

The cat is made entirely of shadows, and is not actually a cat at all.

Way to get us frothing at the mouth, Kristoff. All 5 points make dance in my seat a little–I mean, shadow cats! a city built on a gravesite! girl assassin-in-training! And the author is all “Screw you, Tatooin, my world has THREE suns.”

I automatically add all Kristoff books to my TBR when they’re announced, but after reading all this, I’m even more excited to get my hands on this one. How about you?

Gorgeous post Wendy. <3 I am DYING for this book :D Been waiting forever and ever for this book. I ADORE Jay. He is the best. And his books are the very best :D You are so lucky for getting to post about this first. <3 Hugs. And ahhhhh. The cover is PERFECTION :D This book sounds like it is going to be the best. I cannot wait. Love love love the sort of interview too :) Thank you for sharing sweet girl. <3Carina Olsen recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday #224

WOW. I have chills. This cover is hauntingly beautiful. The mask and the shadow definitely has me intrigued and like you, I do like the fact that she is not stick-thin. This book sounds dark and I absolutely love the concept. Basically, I need this book! :DLois @ My Midnight Musing recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday: Walk the Edge